WASHINGTON — Senator Bernie Sanders and former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon delivered consecutive speeches on Tuesday sharply criticizing the leaders of major technology companies and calling for stronger government regulation of artificial intelligence. Speaking at a conference in Washington focused on the societal impacts of AI, both figures expressed concern that the rapid development of the technology could soon surpass human oversight.

The event, known as the Pro-Human Assembly, brought together an unusual coalition of voices—including progressive and conservative politicians, religious leaders from various faiths, and members of the arts community—reflecting a rare bipartisan apprehension about the future of AI. Sanders, a longtime democratic socialist, urged the public to "hit the brakes" on AI development, warning that the world is facing a "dangerous and unprecedented moment in history." He emphasized the need for collective action to prevent the technology from worsening existing inequalities or threatening human safety.

Bannon, previously associated with the MAGA movement, echoed the call for urgent intervention, denouncing the billionaires believed to be driving AI advancement without sufficient ethical safeguards. Both speakers framed the current trajectory of AI innovation as reckless and perilous, likening it to racing toward a cliff and emphasizing the importance of maintaining human control over technological progress.

Conference attendees reached broad agreement on the risks AI poses, particularly the potential for autonomous systems to harm humanity if left unchecked. Despite this consensus, political leaders and experts have yet to establish a clear framework or national policy to address these concerns. The event underscored the growing public and political unease surrounding AI, which has maintained momentum across the ideological spectrum.

While there is no unified approach in Congress or the White House so far, the Pro-Human Assembly manifested a growing bipartisan movement advocating for stricter oversight, ethical guidelines, and transparency in the deployment of AI technologies. The presence of diverse stakeholders at the conference emphasized that anxiety over AI’s unchecked power transcends traditional political divisions, framing it as a shared challenge with potentially profound consequences for society.